GB2238647A

GB2238647A - Rotary magnetic head device for magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2238647A
Application number: GB9024440A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yasuo Mitsuhashi
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 1989-11-10
Filing date: 1990-11-09
Publication date: 1991-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-09
Also published as: US5223992A; DE4032983A1; GB9024440D0; GB2238647B; DE4032983C2

Abstract

A rotary magnetic head device for magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus such as VTR and DAT apparatus, which adopts a helical scanning system, is provided in order to prevent the demagnetization of a magnetic tape and reduce a jitter component of a reproduction signal, a head unit (100) moves the magnetic head (7a) in the diametrical direction of a rotary drum (5). The head unit (100) has a bobbin (103) inserted into the centre holes of a plurality of spring leaves (101, 102), and the bobbin (103) is movable in the diametrical direction of the rotary drum (5) by the electromagnetic force produced on a coil (104) wound around the bobbin (103). A head arm (110) attached to the spring leave (101) is thereby moved in the same direction, thereby varying the amount of projection of the magnetic head (76). The amount of projection of the magnetic head (76) is controlled according to the level of the envelope of a reproducing signal so as to be set at the minimum value in the range in which the output level of the envelope signal is saturated. <IMAGE>

Description

ROTARY MAGNETIC HEAD DEVICE FOR MAGNETIC RECORDING AND/OR REPRODUCING

APPARATUS

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a rotary magnetic head device for magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

A conventional rotary magnetic head device in a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, such as video tape recorder (VTR) apparatus and digital audio tape (DAT) apparatus, which adopts a helical scanning system is shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional rotary magnetic head device in a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus. The device has a fixed lower drum 1, a rotary shaft 3, which extends through the lower drum 1 at the centre thereof and is rotatably supported by the lower drum 1 through upper and lower bearings 2. A seat 4 is fixed at the upper end of the rotary shaft 1, which projects from the lower drum 1, and an upper drum is screwed to the seat 4. A magnetic head rest 6 is removably screwed to a predetermined position of the undersurface of the upper drum 5, namely, the surface facing the lower drum 1. To the head rest 6, a magnetic head 7 is fixed in such a manner as to slightly protrude from the outer peripheries of the upper 5 and lower 1 drums at a small gap therebetween. In Fig. 7, an upper transformer 8 is shown attached to the seat 4, a lower transformer 9 is fixed to the lower drum 1 in such a manner as to be opposed to the upper transformer 8 with a small gap therebetween and connecting portions 10, 11, a distribution board 12 and a magnetic tape 13, are shown.

In the conventional rotary magnetic head device having the abovedescribed structure, the upper drum 5 is rotated at a constant high speed. The magnetic tape 13 is slightly obliquely wound around the outer peripheral surfaces of the upper 5 and lower 1 drums, and travels at a predetermined speed. The magnetic head 7 comes into contact with the magnetic tape 13 and records or reproduces a video (or sound) signal. The magnetic head 7 is electrically connected to the upper transformer 8 through the connecting portions 10, 11 and the distribution board 12. The upper and lower transformers 8, 9 are magnetically connected to each other so as to transmit a signal to each other. The lower transformer 9 is connected to an external signal processor (not shown).

With the travel of the magnetic tape 13 and the rotation of the magnetic head 7, the magnetic head 7 consecutively crosses the magnetic tape 13 obliquely. The trajectories of the magnetic head 7 which crosses the magnetic tape 13 are parallel to each other. This will be explained in more detail with reference to Figs. 8A and 8B. A trajectory 13a of the magnetic tape 13 is shown along with the ordinary magnetic tape feeding speed V,, the trajectory 7A of the magnetic head 7 and the rotating speed VO of the magnetic head 7. The trajectories 13a and 7A cross each other, as shown in Fig. 8A. Thus, the relative trajectory of the magnetic head 7 which actually comes into sliding contact with the travelling magnetic tape 13 is the one indicated by A in Fig. 8A.

Since the two magnetic heads consecutively come into sliding contact with the magnetic tape 13, and if the trajectory of one magnetic head which comes into sliding contact with the magnetic tape is represented by A and the trajectory of the other magnetic head which comes into sliding contact with the magnetic tape is repre sented by B, the trajectories A and Bare formed on the magnetic tape 13 in parallel with each other and at a high density, as indicated by A,. B1f A2f 20... These A,, B1t A2, B2. ... are known as "tracks',, on the tape. In the magnetic tape 13, during still reproduction (still operation) and recording stop and standby (pause operation), the travel of the magnetic tape 13 is stopped while the upper drum 5 rotates at its high speed, so that each magnetic head 7 continuously traces the trajectory 7A shown in Fig. 8A. In other words, the magnetic head 7 continues tracing a position of the magnetic tape 13 at an angle smaller than the ordinary angle of inclination. In this way, the rotary magnetic head device of, for example, a conventional magnetic video recording and reproducing apparatus (VTR) carries out either an ordinary reproducing operation (the magnetic tape 13 travels at a predetermined feeding speed), a still reproducing operation (the magnetic tape 13 stops) or a recording stopping and standby operation (the magnetic tape 13 stops).

In 1-inch (2.54 cm) helical VTRs used for broadcasting, a technique of automatically tracking at the time of reproduction while moving the magnetic head in the direction of the width of the magnetic tape such as what is called automatic scan tracking (AST) or dynamic track following (DFT) has been developed.

This technique is explained hereinafter with reference to Figs. 9 to 12.

In Figs. 9 to 12, a magnetic head 7 for recording and reproduction is shown along with a head 14 exclusively for special reproduction which is operated at the time of AST or DTF, a bimorph piezoelectric element 15, to the end of which the head 14 is attached, and a rotary drum 5 which rotates at 1,800 rpm and to which the magnetic heads 7 for recording and reproduction and the bimorph piezoelectric elements 15 are attached.

Fig. 10 shows the structure of the actuator portion of the DTF system, including a fixed drum 1 and a magnetic tape 13.

Fig. 11 shows the principle of the operation of the bimorph piezoelectric element 15 which is conventionally used. The bimorph piezoelectric element 15 is a bimorph plate composed of two piezoelectric elements X,. X2 sandwiched between electrodes Y1 and Y2, and between electrodes Y2 and Y3 respectively. The head 14, exclusively for special reproductions is attached to the free end of the bimorph piezoelectric element 15 and a power source S is connected to the three electrodes Y1 to Y3. For example. when the power source S applies a forward voltage to the piezoelectric element X, and a reverse voltage to the piezoelectric element X2. the piezoelectric element X, contracts in the direction indicated by the arrow X, while the piezoelectric element X2 extends in the direction indicated by the arrow X2. On the other hand, when the power source S applies a reverse voltage to the piezoelectric X, and a forward voltage to the piezoelectric element X2. the piezoelectric element X, extends while the piezoelectric element X2 contracts. In this way, the bimorph piezoelectric element 15 moves vertically in the axial direction of the drums 1 and 5, as shown in Fig. 10.

The principle of noiseless high-speed search at the time of high-speed reproduction will now be explained with reference to Fig. 12. The symbols A,, B,, A2f B2, A3F B3 denote the video tracks recorded on the magnetic tape 13. The azimus at which the tracks A,, A2, A3r... are recorded by the head is different from the azimuth at which the tracks B,, B2f B3t... are recorded.

It is now assumed that signals are reproduced at a quintuple speed for high-speed search. Unless the bimorph piezoelectric element 15 for the head 14 exclusively for special reproduction is driven, the trajectory of the head 14 exclusively for special reproduction which scans the magnetic tape 13 is the one represented by the broken line Ll in Fig. 12. If the azimuth of head 14 exclusively for special reproduction is the same as that of the track A, the signal is reproduced only by scanning the tracks A,, A21 A311..., and the tracks Bl, B2, B3 which are recorded at a different azimuth must be scanned separately therefrom, so that a noise bar is produced on a reproducing screen. In order to completely reproduce the track A, even when the video tape is travelled at a quintuple speed, the head 14 exclusively for special reproduction is moved in the axial direction of the track (left-hand side in Fig. 12) by 4 track pitches in one field during which the head 14 exclusively for special reproduction comes into contact with the magnetic tape 13. In the next field, the opposite head 14 exclusively for special reproduction is moved by 4 track pitches. In this way, the tracks A,. B3, A61... are completely scanned, thereby obtaining noiseless reproducing signals. In other words, the noiseless reproduction at any speed is realized by moving the rotary magnetic head in the direction of the width of the track in according with the tape speed at the time of reproduction, as described above. That is, the movable head in the conventional device explained above is a head which is movable in the axial direction of the drum.

As described above, a movable head has been developed as a frontier technique for a VTR and already been employed in VTR-'s for business use, but the magnetic head provided on the rotary drum in a domestic VTR is still a fixed head.

In a conventional rotary magnetic head device, during still reproduction and recording stop and standby, since the magnetic tape 13 is stopped, the magnetic head 7 repeatedly slides on one track of the magnetic tape 13 at a high speed, as shown in Fig. 8A. More particularly, the magnetic head 7 slides on the track portion bestriding two tracks because the trajectory of the head has a smaller angle of inclination during the stop of the magnetic tape 13 than the ordinary angle of inclination of the track, as described above. The magnetic surface of the magnetic tape 13 is damaged thereby and the magnetization of the magnetic material is gradually reduced (this phenomenon is called demagnetization). To prevent this, in a conventional VTR apparatus, when still reproduction or recording stop and standby continues for, generally, 4 to 5 minutes, the loading of the magnetic tape on the drum is automatically released and the VTR apparatus is stopped. Once the stopping mode is taken, several seconds is required for starting the next operation. In this way, handling of the VTR apparatus during still reproduction or recording stop and standby is very troublesome.

In a VTR of an AST or DTF system, a movable head is adopted as a magnetic head and the vertical movement of the magnetic head in the axial direction of the drum is controlled.

In either case, the magnetic head slightly projects from the outer periphery of the drum and slides on the magnetic surface of the magnetic tape which is wound around the drum, as shown in Fig. 9. Such a magnetic head wears by, for example, 8 to 10 pm in 1,000 hours. Although it is desirable that the amount of projection from the outer periphery of the drum is same, the amount of projection is apt to become nonuniform due to the wear caused by the sliding on the magnetic tape, and a jitter is disadvantageously produced on the reproduced picture. When the amount of projection from the drum is reduced due to the wear of the magnetic head, the state in which the magnetic head is in contact with the magnetic tape is deteriorated, thereby making it impossible to maintain a good picture quality for a long time and, in the worst case, making it necessary to replace the head in spite of a short-time use.

Accordingly, the present invention seeks to eliminate at least some of the above-described problems in known apparatus and to provide a rotary magnetic head device for magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus which is capable of maintaining a still reproduction mode and a recording stop and standby mode for a long time which this does not produce demagnetization.

The present invention also seeks to provide a rotary magnetic head device for a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus which is capable of reducing a jitter component of a reproducing signal and maintaining a high picture quality for a long time.

According to the present invention there is provided a rotary magnetic head device comprising a rotary drum, a magnetic head projecting in the diametrical direction of the rotary drum and a head unit for varying the amount of projection of the magnetic head from the rotary drum by moving the magnetic head in the diametrical direction in the rotary drum.

The head unit may include a plurality of spring leaves each having a centre hole and arranged mutually parallel with the peripheral portions thereof fixed to yokes, a bobbin inserted into the centre holes of the plurality of spring leaves so as to be supported thereby in such a manner as to be floatable in the diametrical direction of the rotary drum, a pole piece inserted into the bobbin, permanent magnets disposed at both ends of the pole piece within the bobbin, a driving coil wound around the bobbin for moving the bobbin in the diametrical direction of the rotary drum by the electromagnetic force produced when energized and a head arm attached to one of the spring leaves which is extended in the diametrical direction of the rotary drum so as to move in the diametrical direction of the rotary drum with the movement of the bobbin, thereby moving the magnetic head attached to the end of the head arm in the diametrical direction of the rotary drum.

In this way, by moving the magnetic head in the diametrical direction of the rotary drum, it is possible to greatly reduce the amount of projection of the magnetic head in the still reproduction mode or recording stop and standby mode in comparison with that during the ordinary operation and to prevent the demagnetization of the magnetic material.

The rotary magnetic head device may further comprise an envelope detecting means for detecting the envelope of a reproducing signal from the magnetic head, a searching means for obtaining the minimum amount of projection in the projection range in which the envelope level is saturated by sequentially driving the head unit and a control means for controlling the head unit so as to fix the magnetic head at the position in conformity with the minimum amount of projection obtained by the searching means. If so, it is possible to control the amount of projection of the magnetic head in correspondence with the envelope level of a reproducing signal, thereby compensating the wear of the magnetic head and maintaining the contact pressure between the magnetic tape and the magnetic head at the optimum value.

The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a rotary magnetic head device for magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a section view of the head unit of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the head unit shown in Fig. 2; Figs. 4A and 4B are plan views-of two circular spring leaves which support a bobbin of the head unit; Fig. 5 is a block diagram of electrical circuitry of a rotary magnetic head device embodying the present invention; Fig. 6A shows the relationship between the amount of projection a magnetic head and the output of an envelope signal; Fig. 6B shows a reproducing FM signal output when the contact pressure between the magnetic tape and the magnetic head is set at the optimum value; Fig. 7 is a section view of a conventional rotary magnetic head device for magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus; Figs. 8A and 8B are explanatory views of the relative trajectories of the magnetic tape and the magnetic head in a convention magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional magnetic head device; Fig. 10 is an explanatory view of the movement of the magnetic head in a conventional device; Fig. 11 shows the principle of a bimorph piesoelectric element for moving a magnetic head in a conventional device; and Fig. 12 is an explanatory view for special reproduction from a magnetic tape in a conventional device.

Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the structure of the drum portion of a rotary magnetic head device according to the present invention. Fig. 1 illustrates a rotary drum 5, a fixed drum 1, situated below the rotary drum 5, a main shaft 3 provided on the central axis of both drums 1, 5, and rotatably supported by the fixed drum 1 by way of bearings 2 and fixed to the rotary drum 5. An electrode brush 17 is also illustrated supported by the fixed drum 1 through an arm 17a so as to apply a current to the coil in a later-described head unit 100. A slip ring 18 is provided on the upwardly extended portion of the main shaft 3 in contact with the electrode brush 17, along with a drum motor 19 for rotating the main shaft 3, and rotary transformers 8 and 9, fixed to the rotary drum 5 at the upper portion and to the fixed drum 1 at the lower portion.

The head unit 100 is fixed on the inner surface of the rotary drum 5 and a rotates at a constant speed of 1,800 rpm by the rotation of the drum motor 19 so as to maintain the projection of a magnetic head 7a (7b) from the outer peripheral surface of the drum which is composed of the rotary drum 5 and the fixed drum at a constant value.

Fig. 2 is a section view of the head unit 100. Circular spring leaves 101, and 102 are arranged in parallel to each other. To one end of 101 of the circular spring leaves. the magnetic head 7a (7b) is fixed through a head arm 110. A light-weight bobbin 103 is adhered to the central portions of the circular spring leaves 101, 102. A coil is provided which is composed of, for example, a fine copper wire (diameter 0.1 mm) wound around the light-weight bobbin 103 in 250 turns with the axis directed to the diametrical direction of the rotary drum 5.

A permanent magnet 105 formed of rare earth element cobalt, a pole piece 106 composed of soft iron, and yokes 107, 109 composed of soft iron are also illustrated. The pole piece 106 is inserted into the hollow portion of the bobbin 103, and the permanent magnets 105 are secured to both sides of the pole piece 106 through the hollow portion of the bobbin 103. The yokes 107, 108 are connected to both sides of the yoke 109 provided on the outer periphery of the coil 104 and are secured to the end portions of the pair of permanent magnets 105 which are fixed on both sides of the pole piece 106. A magnetic tape 111 is shown which is obliquely wound around the peripheral surfaces of the rotary z - 1 1 - drum 5 and the fixed drum 1 in contact with the magetic head 7a (7b).

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the respective parts of the head unit 100 shown in Fig. 2. The same numerals are provided for the elements which are the same as those shown in Fig. 2. A flexible printed circuit board 112a for receiving and transmitting a head signal is illustrated as is a flexible printed circuit board 112b for supplying a coil driving current.

Figs. 4A and 4B are detailed views of the circular spring leaves 101 and 102, respectively, which are the main parts of this embodiment. Each of the circular spring leaves 101, 102 is composed of a beryllium copper sheet, 0.8 mm thick, provided with a multiplicity of arcuate slits so as to impart a stable elasticity, as shown in Figs. 4A and 4B. A small molded product of Noryl is inserted into and adhered to the central portion of the circular spring leaf 101 (102) and the bobbin 103 provided with the coil 104 is inserted into and adhered to the molded product. A part of the outer periphery of the circular spring leaf 101 is extended in the form of a long piece provided with a notch and the plate-like head arm 110 is secured thereto in such a manner as to be orthogonal thereto. The magnetic head 7a (7b) is fixed at the end of the head arm 110.

The unit, composed of the light-weight bobbin 103 with a fine copper wire wound therearound and the two circular leaves 101, 102 shown in Figs. 4A and 4B and adhered to two portions of the outer periphery of the lightweight bobbin 103, as described above, is secured to the inner surface of the yokes 107 and 108 by adhesion or fitting, as shown in Fig. 2. When the bobbin 103 as a whole is moved with the peripheries of the circular spring leaves 101, 102 fixed thereto, the magnetic head 7a (7b) also moves in the direction indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 2 (in the diametrical direction of the drum).

The operation will be explained in more detail with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. If the N-pole side of the permanent magnet 105 is secured to the pole piece 106, a magnetic field is generated, as typically indicated by the arrow of a thick broken line in Fig. 2. When a current is caused to flow on the coil 104 in the direction shown in Fig. 2, the force is applied to the (-) side in the direction indicated by the arrow A according to the Fleming's left-hand rule, whereby the bobbin 103 moves to the right-hand side, namely, in the direction in which the magnetic head 7a (7b) projects from the drum. Since the circular spring leaves 101, 102, which are fixed to the yokes 108 and 107, respectively, at the outer peripheries, have a uniform high elasticity, the bobbin 103 as a whole moves to the (-) side in the direction indicated by the arrow A in proportion to the magnitude of the current. With the movement of the bobbin 103, the head arm 110 and the magnetic head 7a (7b) attached to the long piece of the circular spring leave 101 moves in parallel to the bobbin 103 to the right-hand side, namely, in the direction in which the amount of projection of the magnetic head 7a (7b) increases.

On the other hand, if the direction of the current flowing on the coil 104 is inverted, the bobbin 103 moves to the left-hand side, namely, in the direction in which the amount of projection of the magnetic head 7a (7b) reduces. In this way, by controlling the magnitude and the direction of the current applied to the coil 104, it is possible to control the brake pressure (contact pressure) between the magnetic tape 111 and the magnetic head 7a (7b) which moves in the diametrical direction of the drum composed of the rotary drum 7 and the fixed drum 1.

Since the rotary drum 5 is rotated through the mainshaft 3 by the rotational driving force of the drum motor 19. the magnetic heads 7a, 7b are also rotated around the main shaft 3. The magnetic heads 7a, 7b therefore helically scan the magnetic tape 111 which is travelling in the state of being obliquely wound around the rotary drum 5 and the fixed drum 1, thereby excellently reproducing the information recorded on the magnetic tape 111.

In this way, the amount of projection of the magnetic head 7a (7b) at the time of ordinary recording and reproduction is maintained at the optimum value (40 pm) for the surface sliding contact, while when the magnetic tape 111 is stopped in the still operation, pause operation or the like, the amount of projection of the magnetic head 7a (7b) is reduced to about 1/2 (about 20 pm) so as to reduce the contact pressure between the magnetic head 71 and the magnetic tape 111. Due to this structure, the magnetic head 7a (7b) does not reduce the magnetization power on the magnetic tape 111 or damage the tape surface even in the still or pause operation. Thus, it is possible to maintain such a still or pause operation for a long time, thereby enhancing the operability of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, and to reduce the wear of the magnetic head 7a (7b) caused by the pause operation or the like.

In this embodiment, although two circular spring leaves 101, 102 for supporting the bobbin 103 in such a manner as to float in the axial direction are provided, the number of the circular spring leaves is not restricted to two and may be three or more. Although a multiplicity of arcuate slits are provided on the circular spring leave 101 (102) so as to impart the bobbin supporting portion with flexibility in this embodiment, a similar function may be provided by forming radial slits or varying the thickness of the spring leaf 101 (102) with the portion. In short, various springs including springs other than the circular spring leaf may be used so long as they have high elasticity and reliability.

Although the amount of projection of the magnetic head at the time of ordinary recording and reproduction and at the time of stopping the tape (still reproduction, pause) is only explained in this embodiment, it is also possible to set the amount of projection of the magnetic head at a value suitable for slow reproduction (reproduced at an excessively slow tape speed) or high-speed search reproduction (reproduced at about five times as high a speed as the speed for ordinary reproductions).

Furthermore, it is possible to control the amount of projection of the magnetic head in correspondence with the envelope level of a reproducing signal.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the entire system of the driving portion of such a rotary magnetic head device. In Fig. 5, the reference numeral 111 represents a magnetic tape which travels in the direction indicated by the arrow T, 111a and 111b video tracks at an azimuth of 61 which are reproduced by the helical scanning by the magnetic heads 7a and 7b, respectively.

The magnetic heads 7a and 7b are connected to amplifiers 21a, 21b, envelope detectors 22a, 22b, A/D converters 23a, 23b. comparators 24a, 24b in a microcomputer. D/A converters 25a, 25b, filter circuits 26a, 26b, gain adjusters 27a, 27b, amplifiers 28a, 28b, each element of the electrode brushes 17, each element of the slip rings 18 and the respective coils 104 in series.

The operation of this system will now be explained with reference to Fig. 5. An FM video signal is picked up when the magnetic head 7a traces the video track 111a on the magnetic tape 111, and after the FM video signal is amplified by the amplifier 21a, the envelope of the FM video signal is detected by the envelope detector 22a. The - is - envelope detecting analog signal is-input to the A/D converter 23a for converting it into a digital signal, thereby obtaining an envelope digital signal. The relationship between the amount of projection of the magnetic head 7a from the outer peripheral surface of the drum and the output level of the envelope signal at this time is shown in Fig. 6A, wherein the abscissa represents the amount of projection of the magnetic head 7a from the outer peripheral surface of the drum and the ordinate the output level of the envelope signal.

Generally, at the initial stage at which the gap depth of the video head is about 35 pm (in other words, when the video head is new), the gap depth being reduced with the wear of the head. the output of the envelope signal can be detected if the amount of projection is not less than 10 pm. The output level of the envelope signal increases approximately in proportion to the amount of projection, and after it is saturated in the vicinity of the amount of projection of 45 pm. it becomes constant. When the amount of projection signal exceeds 70 pm, the contact pressure between the magnetic head 7a and the magnetic tape 111 becomes excessive, thereby slightly lowering the output level of the envelope signal.

Although it is desirable to set the amount of projection of the magnetic head in the range in which the contact pressure between the tape and the head is the maximum and the output level of the envelope signal is the maximum, the amount of projection of the magnetic head is ordinarily restricted to the minimum (the position indicated by a in Fig. 6A) in the range in which the output level of the envelope signal is the maximum in order to avoid the damage of the magnetic tape or the demagnetization of the magnetic material on the tape caused by the sliding friction between the tape and the head. However, since the head is worn by the sliding motion, the initial value set for the amount of projection of the magnetic head comes not to satisfy the optimum conditions with the continuous use of the apparatus, resulting in the production of a jitter. Thus, the picture quality in an old VTR deteriorates. When the head is worn, the gap depth is reduced by the depth of wear. When the gap depth of the head is reduced, the magnetic flux for closing the head gap portion concentrates, so that the reproducing efficiency of the head is enhanced and, hence, the reproducing FM signal level increases, as shown in Fig. 6B.

It is therefore necessary to reset the amount of projection of the head at a value suitable for the reproducing FM signal level. In the presentinvention, the envelope value of the reproducing FM signal is constantly detected and the amount of projection of the head is gradually changed so that it is set at a value suitable for the gap depth and, in addition, the contact pressure between the head and the tape is set at the optimum value.

The digital signal subjected to A/D conversion by the A/D converter 23 shown in Fig. 5 is supplied to the comparator 24a constituted by a microcomputer for the following comparison. The digital signal for slightly searching the amount of projection of the magnetic head 7a by the microcomputer is output to the D/A converter 25a, and the amount of projection of the magnetic head 7a is sequentially varied. The digital signal obtained when the amount of projection of the magnetic head 7a is varied is compared with the digital signal input from the A/D converter 23a before the amount of projection of the magnetic head 7a is varied, and the searching point is restored to the point at which the output level of the envelope signal begins to be saturated (generally, where the amount of projection is in the region of 45 pm).

The output signal of the comparator 24a is constantly converted into an analog signal by the D/A converter 25a and smoothed by the filter circuit 26a into a DC voltage signal. The gain of the DC voltage signal is adjusted by the gain adjuster 27a.

The DC voltage signal drives the coil 104 through the current amplifier 28a, the electrode brush 17 and the slip ring 18 so as to control the amount of projection of the magnetic head 7a in the region of 45 pm.

The magnetic head 7b has the same structure as the magnetic head 7a and the operation thereof is also the same, so that explanation thereof will be omitted.

In this way, the amount of projection of the magnetic head 7a (7b) is slowly searched from a lower value and after it is confirmed that the amount of projection has reached the saturation point, the magnetic head 7a (7b) is positions at the point of the optimum amount of projection at which the output level of the envelope signal begins to be saturated. When there is a difference in the output level of the envelope signal between the magnetic head 7a and the magnetic head 7b, it is desirable that the output levels are corrected by the comparators 24a, 24b constituted by the microcomputer, thereby balancing both channels.

When the gap depth of the head is reduced, the reproducing FM signal level slightly increases, as shown in Fig. 6B, and the picture quality ought to be improved, as described above. However, when the end of the head is worn and the gap depth of the head is reduced by a long-time use, since the amount of projection of the magnetic head is insufficient, the contact pressure between the head and the tape is insufficient, which leads to the increase in the noise caused by the sliding head and the increase in jitter.

To prevent this, according to the present invention the amount of projection of the magnetic head can be constantly sequentially varied by the system shown in Fig. 5, and the envelope is compared with the envelope at the previous stage so as to find the saturation range of the output level of the envelope signal and set the amount of projection at the point at which the output level of the envelope signal begins to be saturated. That is, the amount of projection is set at the minimum in the range in which the output level of the envelope signal reaches the maximum.

In this embodiment, a plurality of circular spring leaves 102 may be provided, but they must be selected from the spring leaves having high elasticity and reliability. Although a multiplicity of arcuate slits are provided on the circular spring leave 101 (102), the structure is not restricted thereto and a similar function may be provided by forming radial slits or varying the thickness of the spring leaf 101 (102) with the portion.

In the driving system shown in Fig. 5, a technique of converting an envelope signal into a digital signal and searching the digital signal by a microcomputer is adopted, but a technique of controlling an analog signal without conversion may be considered. However, if A/D conversation is adopted as shown in Fig. 5, more circumstantial control is enabled, thereby optimizing the contacting state of the magnetic tape and the magnetic head which is different depending upon the type of the magnetic tape, and the environmental conditions such as the temperature.

In addition, it is possible to compensate for the nonuniformity of the sensitivity in a plurality of magnetic heads by the amount of projection.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the amount of projection of the rotatable magnetic head from the drum is set at the maximum saturation point of the output level of a reproducing FM envelope signal while detecting the amplitude of the FM envelope and at the minimum amount Z 1 of projection in the saturation range, it is possible to constantly set the amount of projection in the best sliding contact state between the magnetic tape and the magnetic head (the amount of projection of the magnetic head which produces the maximum output of the envelope signal from the magnetic head). In addition, even if the magnetic head is worn by long-time use, when the gap depth of the head is reduced and there is a possibility of the level of a reproducing FM signal being slightly increasing, it is possible to compensate for the reduction of the amount of projection so as to realize the possibility. Thus, the guarantee for about 5,000-hour use is enabled, while the head must be replaced at 3,000hour use in a conventional fixed rotary magnetic head. In addition, it is possible to equalize the output levels of the envelope signals of a plurality of magnet heads by controlling the amounts of projection thereof. Since the amounts of projection of a plurality of magnetic heads become uniform at the initial stage, the beating vibration applied to the magnetic tape is reduced, thereby reproducing a picture of a high quality with a low degree of noise.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment and it will be understood that various modifications may be made thereto. and it is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

A rotary magnetic head device for magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus, the device comprising a rotary drum, a magnetic head projecting in a diametrical direction from the rotary drum and a head unit for varying the projection of the magnetic head from the rotary drum by moving the magnetic head in the diametrical direction of the rotary drum.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head unit comprises a plurality of spring leaves, arranged substantially mutually parallel and each having a centre aperture and with the peripheral portions thereof attached to yokes, a bobbin inserted into the aperture of the plurality of spring leaves so as to be movably supported in the diametrical direction of the rotary drum, a pole piece inserted into the bobbin, a permanent magnet disposed at either end of the pole piece within the bobbin, a driving coil wound around the bobbin so as to move the bobbin in the diametrical direction of the rotary drum when energized and a head arm attached to one of the spring leaves which is extended in the diametrical direction of the rotary drum so as to be moved in the diametrical direction of the rotary drum as with the movement of the bobbin.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 including an envelope detecting means for detecting the envelope of a reproducing signal from the magnetic head, a searching means for obtaining the minimum amount of projection in the projection range in which the envelope level is saturated by sequentially driving the head unit and a control means for controlling the head unit so as to locate the magnetic head at a position in conformity with the minimum amount of v b projection obtained by the searching means.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the searching means includes an A/D converter for converting the envelope detected by the envelope detecting means into a digital signal and a comparator for outputting a drive signal for sequentially driving the head unit and comparing envelope digital signals obtained from the A/D converter in series so as to calculate the minimum amount of projection at which the envelope digital signal is saturated.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control means includes a D/A converter for converting the drive signal output from the comparator into an analog signal, filter means for smoothing the analog drive signal output from the D/A converter into a DC drive signal and an amplifier for amplifying the DC drive signal output from the filter means and supplying the amplified DC drive signal to the head unit.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the coil is energized by the DC drive signal from the amplifier.
7. A rotary magnetic head device for magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4a and 4b, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6A and 6B of the accompanying drawings.

Published 1991 at The Patent Ofte. State House-66/71 High Holborn. London WCIR4T?. Further copies may be obtained from Sales l3ranch. Unit 6, Nine Mile Point. Cwmielinfach. Cross Keys. Newport, NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid. St Mary Cray, Kent.